The Shotgun Start

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U.S. Open Saturday from the Ecco House Jun 16, 2024

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are in after a full afternoon chasing the contenders at the U.S. Open and they empty the notebook with 18 more holes to play. They run through some contenders, pretenders, and recount their days following Bryson, Rory, Pavon!, and more. They discuss how the course played and if it will be harder, easier, or the same for the final round. Is this a two-horse race now and is it better that Rory is not in the final group with Bryson? There is an amusing aside on port-o-john minute that leaves both unable to speak for a few seconds. They close it with a few more thoughts and predictions for the final 18 holes of what has been, so far, a great U.S. Open.

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U.S. Open Friday from the Ecco House Jun 15, 2024

Show notes

We’re at the midpoint of the U.S. Open and Andy and Brendan are bouncing into the weekend with delight at how Pinehurst has played, the status of their games within the game, an improved parking situation, and a strong leaderboard. They discuss their days following some balling superstars (Rory, Bryson) and struggling superstars (Scottie), and how the course is making some more uncomfortable than others. They discuss some missed cut casualties and wonder about JT, DJ, Tiger, Phil, and several more. Lastly, they preview the weekend to come and what to expect from the course and he leaderboard.

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U.S. Open Thursday from the Ecco House Jun 14, 2024

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are giddy after a day shuffling through the sandhills of Pinehurst at the U.S. Open. They get back to the Ecco House to recount all their observations on how the course was playing, a stacked leaderboard, a coach inserting himself into the championship, Rory and Cantlay's 65s, some grumpy players bombing, and much more. There are multiple apologies issued for mis-takes and a fabulous Blockie story from the ground to close it out as we quickly turn around to Friday.

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A U.S. Open preview from the Ecco House in Pinehurst Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Andy and Brendan are together again, this time in the Sandhills of North Carolina for the 2024 U.S. Open. They are posted up at the Ecco House after a full day walking around Pinehurst No. 2, acquiring scuttlebutt about the course, USGA, conditions, and other miscellany. They discuss some early-week alarmist comments from the players about the course already being “borderline” and players shooting over 80 en masse. They wonder if Putterboy needs to be canceled. As per usual for these preview episodes, they pick out their “favorite” and worst tee times for the first rounds. They react to comments from Scottie, Bryson, Tiger, Rory, Viktor, Rahm, and more. There are multiple games-within-the-games proposed. There is some angst about ample paywalled Peacock coverage. They close with some “smoking gun” reporting on the Sandhills Screwjob that had people falling out of their seats in the media center. Finally, some picks are made, both for winners and darkhorses.

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Scottie’s dominant, Rahm’s injured and unsubstantiated rumors from Pinehurst Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

This Monday episode is full of life as U.S. Open week at Pinehurst arrives. It’s victory Monday for Brendan and the Cleeks as well as for Andy, who revels in Ernie going back-to-back on the Champs Tour and putting Steve Stricker in a body bag in front of his home crowd. They are also joined by Joseph LaMagna, which is cause to talk about their own first experiences covering a major as Joseph gets set for his. There are some early rumors from Pinehurst about the USGA putting their thumb on the scale, and other scuttlebutt from the ground. Eventually, they get to Scottie Scheffler’s win at Memorial, what it changes about how we view him if at all, and perhaps most importantly, how it might continue to change and wear on all his competitors especially for Pinehurst. They also discuss Jon Rahm and where he’s fallen given how close he battled Scheffler just a year ago and now comes to the U.S. Open with an injury and minimal form. There’s a fun KFT nugget about PGA Tour players taking exemptions, some reaction to a cruel LPGA DQ, and empathy for a catastrophic chokejob on the DP World Tour.

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Memorial ennui, PIF-PGA Tour progress, and Tommy Tolles facts Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

It is Friday! Summer Friday hours are back. Andy and Brendan begin with an unplanned chat on the Memorial Tournament, where it falls in the schedule, if it’s lost luster, and what the ideal scenario is for it going forward as all they want to do is turn their eyes to Pinehurst. Then they get to some random cleanup, on recent drone disturbances at pro golf events, a New York Times report of a big NYC meeting between the PGA Tour and Saudi PIF, and the subject of Jason Day sleeping on a bus parked in his driveway for his hometown event. Then they get back to some SGS roots with an old “Flashlight” on Tommy Tolles. How did he get into golf? Where is he now? And how in the world did he never win?

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LIV discontent, Xander takes aim at Jay, Sun Day Red melodrama Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

This Wednesday episode bounces all over the place with no real flow or plan. Andy and Brendan begin with a few unsubstantiated rumors, discuss the power of Dan Pohl, the absurd equipment advantages of today, and read some tweets from the Sun Day Red account. Then they get into some scuttlebutt on a couple LIV topics, namely an endangered species and some discontent with teammates. They wander about the results from U.S. Open sectional qualifying, outlining some of the better stories and the variety of venues that produce different types of qualifiers. At the Memorial, they discuss Jack’s gripe about the dates, and how it feels like the same song from him, even if he's not totally wrong. They also discuss the field and a potential mid-life crisis cutthroat corner candidate. They close with news of Xander Schauffele letting loose on Jay Monahan with some fiery quotes about him taking charge, standing up, and leading.

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U.S. Women’s Open rota, Canada drone disturbance, and eyebrow-raising PGA Tour Board interview Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

Andy and Brendan come in fresh off the weekend with lots of meaningful golf to digest. So naturally, they start with the Champions Tour and Caleb Williams prognostications. Then they eventually get to Yuka Saso’s U.S. Women’s Open win at Lancaster, where she put it into overdrive on the back nine of a course that provided a “championship test” as it is understood or lusted about. This gets to the subject of the future Women’s Open sites, and whew are they good and illuminate the fewer places the men’s game can go. Then they compare the comments of Yuka being far from home with Bobby Mac’s adjustment to the PGA Tour and his one-week trip with his dad on the bag. They revel in that story, and also get into the subject of a CBS drone apparently annoying him. Did the pilot go to far or was Bobby pulling a rabbit-ear Monty? Last, they get to a wide-ranging interview Joe Ogilvie, now of the PGA Tour Board, did with Golfweek and react to a handful of quotes from this prominent person in a position of power.

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Scheffler freed, Massacres at U.S. Women’s Open, and Nelly discourse May 30, 2024

Show notes

This May featured a first of the month recording AND a last of the month recording. What a blessing! As such, Andy and Brendan are giddy heading into the weekend. They begin with some questions about graduation over-saturation and airline travel complaint ove-saturation. Then they get to some of the great scorecard disasters at the U.S. Women’s Open, and what it says about conditioning and setup, a championship course, and the elite players who visit them. They ponder the Lancaster philosophy of conditioning and renovation, and lament the loss of Nelly Korda as a real contender after she fell victim to a 12th hole that caused backups and big numbers all day. They also discuss the Nelly discourse about how she needs to be doing more for women’s golf outside of her play. They discuss the news of all charges against Scottie Scheffler being dropped in Louisville and the completely avoidable circus. A late entry for event of the week is made. The Auburn Tigers are congratulated for their NCAA win. And then they close it out with an SGS Golf Advice email on a shocking tattoo reveal from a league partner.

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Oh Canada, NCAA heavyweight fight, and USWO preview: Whiparound Wednesday Medley May 29, 2024

Show notes

Is Tim Horton’s actually not good? How did Auburn golf become a powerhouse? Do we have to actually talk "Lexi Legacy" during this U.S. Women’s Open? This medley episode covers three events this week with a trio of guests. Meg Adkins of Fried Egg Golf jumps on before her trip to Lancaster for the USWO to discuss Nelly, Lexi, Lancaster, and a USWO “identity.” Sean Martin talks about his trip to a Saskatoon farm and the Canadian Open. Brentley Romine tries to console Andy on another Illinois match play loss, and previews a real heavyweight Wednesday fight between FSU and Auburn for the men’s national title with some amusing nuggets on a few of the main characters.

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